Hundreds drawn to City Park in Detroit Lakes for inaugural Pride Picnic

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Members of Detroit Lakes Area Pride held their inaugural Pride Picnic at City Park on Wednesday evening, not knowing whether anyone would show up to the introductory social event for the group.

By the end of the first hour, they had their answer.

More than 200 people attended Detroit Lakes Area Pride’s first Pride event in the city; a showing that nearly brought one event organizer to tears.

“I kinda wanna cry,” said Kerry Claypool-Lambert, secretary for Detroit Lakes Area Pride. “It’s amazing. I’ve lived here almost 10 years … and I have always wanted this here, but I was a single mom at the time. I was too busy to start anything … and when I saw on Facebook that they were starting this, this last winter, I jumped on.”

Kerry Claypool-Lambert, secretary for Detroit Lakes Area Pride, also said, events like this are important, for young people especially, to know that there is a community group for them in the lakes area. 

“Our community needs (Detroit Lakes Area Pride),” said Claypool-Lambert. “There are so many young people that need to know that there is a safe place for them. People talk about tolerance, and tolerance is great, but what our young people need is they need a place where they feel celebrated. And this is that place.” 

Rebelle Marie, president of Detroit Lakes Area Pride, tried to describe her emotions as she looked out at the large crowd assembled near the bandshell getting their bag tacos and enjoying the music, blown bubbles and social atmosphere of the event.

“I feel grateful,” said Marie. “I feel grateful. I feel honored. I feel like I’m part of a community that you can’t really describe. This is so amazing.”

She also said there were some people who showed up to the event, who maybe didn’t have the best intentions when they approached the picnic, but, she said, after talking with her and other group members, she thinks they may have left with a changed opinion of their community.

“I could tell that they came into the event skeptical of who we are,” said Marie. “They probably have heard a lot of the propaganda before they met us, but then they got to meet us and see that we are nothing like what they’ve heard about. And they grabbed some stickers … and said, ‘this isn’t what I expected.’ I don’t know what they expected, but I’m glad they got to see us, and not a version of us from people telling them who we are.”

The group said they plan to meet for their next monthly meeting on July 10 to recap their first successful event and plan for their next one.

Rural Ponsford man charged with multiple domestic assault felonies

A rural Ponsford man has been charged with three felonies including domestic assault by strangulation in Becker County District Court.

According to the Detroit Lakes Tribune, on May 20, emergency dispatchers were alerted to a report that 26-year-old Lukas Devlen Fineday was beating a woman at a residence.

Upon arrival to the residence, deputies noticed Fineday was sleeping inside a nearby camper and the woman, who was in a relationship with Fineday, was found hiding under a bed.

The woman told law enforcement that Fineday had choked her and bruises could be seen on her neck. 

She also said Fineday had thrown a bottle at her head

The next day, investigators noticed the woman had bruising on her arms and chest, as well as her neck.

During one incident, she said, Fineday zip-tied her legs and her hands behind her back and left her that way until the morning when he cut the zip ties with a machete.

The woman also said the abuse had been occurring regularly since Jan. 22.

Fineday has multiple previous convictions for domestic assault within the last six years.

His next court appearance will be held June 26 in Becker County District Court.

Celebrity chef not surprised food trucks in Detroit Lakes have gone from niche to mainstream

Food trucks have captured the hearts and taste buds of people around the world by offering unique, convenient, and flavorful culinary experiences, coupled with a sense of community and entrepreneurial spirit. 

Across the country, people will line up down the block at festivals, ball games and other events for the street food experience or to support one of their favorite local food trucks.

The same can be said for Detroit Lakes and the rest of the lakes area, where food trucks have taken off over the past couple of years with community events like Trucks and Tunes, Food Truck Friday, and Food Truck Alley during Detroit Lakes Ligers games

Celebrity chef Tyler Florence, the host of Food Network’s ‘Great Food Truck Race’ joined Zeke and Mandy on KDLM last Friday, June 16th to talk about the upcoming season of the show, and says he isn’t surprised that food trucks have taken off in a community like Detroit Lakes.

“Isn’t that wild?” asked Florence. “Back when we started the Great Food Truck Race in 2010, we had a hard time gaining traction on the idea because food trucks weren’t nearly as popular ten years ago as they are today. And now, cities across the country really celebrate the street food culture that has come out of food trucks. We get four or five of them together and it really feels like a carnival. It’s a lot of fun…especially at baseball games, especially downtown, or in a park on the weekend. And that’s what’s fun about this: I feel like programs like Food Truck Race have really contributed to the success of what was once a niche but is now a whole genre of the restaurant industry.”

Chef Tyler adds that another part of the food truck experience is the adventure of hunting down your favorite food trucks and trying new things for a reasonable price: “I think that turning the food truck adventure that you want to go hunt down for dinner with your family is a fun thing to do. We do it all the time with the crew of Food Truck Race. And the food truck culture flips around so often that there are always new start-ups, always new trucks to try. There are always so many new things to go explore and go check out.”

Highway 59 road work to begin June 26; expect delays

Drivers should expect delays on Highway 59 beginning on June 26, from Highway 34 to the Buffalo River, south of Ogema.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, road construction crews will be applying tack, rock and fog seal on the roadway in both directions.

Drivers should expected daily lane closures and a pilot car with flag workers directing local traffic through the work zone.

The agency also said motorists should be on the lookout for loose gravel and oil during construction.

The road work is expected to be completed on June 28 with permanent traffic striping to be completed in July.

Corbett Road in Detroit Lakes to close for water main repairs June 26

Drivers should also expect detours around Corbett Road in Detroit Lakes beginning on Monday.

According the Detroit Lakes public works department, starting on Monday, June 26, Corbett Road, from the Highway 10 frontage road to Pembina Trail, will be closed to repair a water main leak.

The repairs should be similar to the repair work completed on Roosevelt Road last week.

Corbett Road is expected to reopen at 7 a.m. on Thursday, June 29.

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